 Under his leadership as chairman of the House Education Committee the Gilmer-Aiken bills were passed.Colonel Etheredge returned to the classroom in 1951 to teach at his alma mater, Sam Houston State University, as a professor in the education department.He also founded the Army ROTC program, became a member of the university's athletic hall of honor, retired as a full professor in 1978 and was later recognized as a distinguished alumnus of the school.